[epostl]

Originally Posted by masaegu

I do not really understand your question even after reading it three times and that may be why no one has responded so far. Words with double meanings are not all that rare either in English or Japanese. There is nothing so special about it.

Can you expand on what you are trying to accomplish? A couple of more examples might help get responses, too.

Thanks masaegu for letting me know the question wasn't clear. I'll try to describe my image, and then the verbal double meaning I'm looking for.

Broadly, the piece deals with the clash of globalized vs indigenous culture. The image is of a part woman, part sea creature, in an angelic pose, being plucked up by a pair of chopsticks (presumably by a giant hand, out of frame). Behind her and around her are patterns and markings from coastal African tribes, containing references to tribal maritime culture and history.

The word or phrase I'm looking for here would be incorporated as a very commercial-looking title, as if advertising a product (i.e. "Delicacy"). Its function will be to connect the ideas of food / flavor / taste / consumption with the notion of something rare, fragile, and exhaustible.

So I guess my question breaks into two parts, the first being: is there a Japanese word for "delicacy" or "delicate" that carries the same double meaning as the English word?-- that is, a word or phrase that can be used to describe both a choice food, and a condition of fragility or scarcity / costliness.

Secondarily, if no such equivalent exists, perhaps there is a phrase or word that speaks more generally to the relationship between fragility / exhaustibility, and desirability / flavor?

Thanks, Leera23, for the dictionary link. I've consulted this and other dictionaries, but still find it difficult to know which word will contain the kind of double-meaning that resonates with the native ear.

Much appreciative of any suggestions from fluent speakers!